Miniature football game



Sept 11,1923.

D. C. ATKINS MINIATURE FOOTBALL GAME Filed Nov. 23 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1IlIIl/E/IITOR WITNESSES:

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arm, or i hl hld 2" runs ro o'rnanr. ensure Application filed NovemberTo allwhomt'tmwyc'omem:

Be it known that IPDAVIS C. Arms, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lexingt State of Kentucky,

useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amusement aplll paratus, particularly togames, and has for its object the provision of a novel game designedtobe played as the representation of a regulation foot ball game, thedevice being highly interesting and amusing for young 11535 and old.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a game of thischaracter which includes a playing surface variously inscribed withlegends and other markings ll and which further includes a chart uponwhich score may be kept by means of movable markers, the game the aid ofa spinner. 1

With the above and other objects and ad 2 vantages in view the inventionconsists in the details of arrangement to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a view of the playing board, Figure 2* is a View of thechart or held on which the score is kept, and

Figure 3 is a view of the marker. Referring more particularly to thedraw- 85 ings the playing board, shown in Figure i may be constructed otpaper, wood, metal, cloth or any other suitable material indicated bythe numeral and of sniiicient size that the playing surface and thescore (it chart shown in Figure 2, may be both inscribed thereon bymeans'of printing or other means. The playing surface is inscribed withfive concentric circles, the innermost one of which is indented at thepoints K for ornamental purposes only.

The lines F beginning at points K and extending to the circle B areterminals of an imaginary diameter dividing the space between thecircles A and B into two equal parts.v The space is subdivided intothirty-three equal parts on each side, numbered consecutively from 1.to

have invented new and on in the county of Fayette and Miniature Footballbeing played with g $3, 1921. Elerial lilo. 517,41155.

33, inclusive, which numbers represent yards, this being the unit ofmeasure of coungtine; points on the field or chart or Figure The spacebetween the circles B and C is divided into eleven parts or sectors bylines E, and the names 0 the eleven positions as played by players in aregular foot ball game are inserted the part assigned to each playerbeing as iar as practical, in direct proportion to the average number oftimes that player will carry the ball ,in a game of foot ball.

Lines E are extended to the circle 11) so. as to subdivide the spacebetween the circles C and D into parts progortionate to the partsbetween the circles and G. The spaces between the circles C and D arenow subdivided into one hundred and thirty two equal parts, which areassigned names representing plays most frequentlymade in a arms of football. These plays are allotted to the respective players as indicatedbetween the circles B and C in direct proportion to the frequency withwhich this play is executed by the respective players, individual playseing written opposite sectors and reading outward from the circleNumbers indicated in sectors between the circles C and D indicatetheyards gained or lost by the respective plays. These num bers conform tothe average gain or loss by making; the respective plays in a "foot ballgame.

The plays, as they come in the game, are

determined by revolving the spindle d,

which extends through the center of the circles and which has twoindicators, one of which is primary.

' Code for reading plays in Fig. 1:

G.--.Gain. I

N. (En-No gain.

F. P.Forward pass.

Inc. P.-Incompleted pass.

Int. P.llntercepted pass.

F. (ah-Field goal.-

Fu. L-Fumble and lose.

Fu. R.--Fumble and recover.

P.--Punt.

Fig.7 2 represents the field, on which is kept account of the exact gosition of the ball in play at all times. he marker M Gilli Ill is movedforward on the field with each gain, and the number' -of yards that wasgained, and moved-backward with each loss to the extent of the loss. forplaying.)

(See instructions Instructions for playing.

The game can be played by one, two or more players. When two areplaying, each party represents. a whole team of eleven players. Whenmore than two are playing,

The game may be played in quarters, like i a regulation game of football, by letting fifteen turns of the spindle represent a quarter. Ispecify fifteen turns for the quarter, because the average number ofplays in a foot ball game is sixty, and four times fifteen equals thatnumber.

Each turn of the spindle represents a completed play. The play and thenumber of yards gained or lost are indicated in the outer circle. Theplayer making the play is indicatedin the space between the inner andouter circles.

The inner circle is divided into two halves, each half being numberedfrom one to thirty-three, representing yards, and are to be used todetermine the yard line on which the ball was received on the kick-off,only. The rest of the plays are indicated on the outer circle.

The miniature ball M, shown in Figure 3, should be moved on the field toindicate the position of the ball in play, that is, in order 7 to keepaccount of what yard line the ball is on. This should be done after eachplay or turn of the spindle.

The white end of the spindle is to be counted as primary indicator inevery play, including the kick-ofi'. On some plays both the White andthe black ends of the spindle count for the player who has possession ofthe ball. On some plays the white end only is to be read, and on some,the white end counts for the player in possession of the ball, while theblack end counts against him, or in other words, for this opponents.(For further details and explanation. see the individual plays.)

Kick-0 7.

Participants select their respective sides, place miniature ball incenter of field, and one of them turns the spindle. The side to whichthe-white end of the spindle points to, receives the ball and the numberin the inner circle indicates the yardline on which it was received. Theblack end of the spindle indicates the player who receives the ball andthe number in the outer circle indicates how many yards that playerreturned the ball towards the enemys goal, before being downed. If nonumber is indicated in the outer circle, it means that the playerreceiving the ball was downed in his tracks and made no run at all. Allplayers on the board are now members of the team which has possession ofthe ball. Now, place the ball on the supplementary field, soas toindicate where it is to be putin play next.

The player receiving the ball on the first play or turn is the one tomake the next turn of the spindle, and so on.

N 0 gain.

Should the white end of the spindle point to No-gain, no score may becounted, but the player making the attempt is indicated. In this play donot read the black end'of the spindle.

Gains. Should the white end of the spindle point to Gains, read thenumber of yards gained, and move the ball on the supplementary fieldtowards the enemys goal that number of yards. Do not read the black endof the spindle in this play.

Fumble and recover.

Should the white end of the spindle'point to Fumble and recover, theplay counts two yards gained, and the ball on the field should beadvanced that far. The black end of the spindle indicates the playerrecovering the ball, and the player recovering the ball makes the nextturn of the spindle.

Field goal,

Should the white end of the, spindle indicated Field goal, it countsthree points for the side making it. Play is resumed by making anotherkick-ofi', which is done in the same manner as at the start of the game.

The player or team making a (field goal) or (touchdown) receives thenext kick-off. F orwaird pass.

in this play count on the supplementary field as yards gained by thosein possession of the ball. In this play, the black end of meters thespindle indicates the player to make the next turn of the spindle, as hehas possession of the balL I nte'rcepteal pass. I

Should the white end point to Intercepted pass, the number of yardsindicated by the white end. counts in favor of the player attempting thepass. The black end counts for the player intercepting the pass. The

players on the board are now members of.

the opposing team, as the other team lost possession of the ball byhaving their attempted forward-pass intercepted. Play and scoring goeson as before:

Incomple ted-p ass.

Should the white end point to Incompleted-pass, no score is counted, andthe play is made over again. Do not read black end of spindle.

' Fmnble and loss.

Should the white end point to Fumble and loss, it counts a two yardsgain for the player making the fumble, but the ball goes to theopposingside. The black end indicates the player on the opposing side whorecovers the ball.

P'umt.

Should the white end oint to Punt, it indicates the number of yardsgained by punting, but the ball goes to the opposing team. The black endindicates the player on the opposing team he receives the ball, and alsothe number 0 yards he carried it before being downed, this numbercounting in his favor.

Penabized.

P. denotes a penalty of five yards, and should the white spindle pointto P in No-gain play, it counts five yards against the player (or side)carrying the ball.

Touchdown/s.

When sufiicient ground has been gained by one side as indicated on thesupplementary field) to carry the ball over the opponents goal line, itis a touchdown and.

counts six points for the side making the touchdown.

To M07; goal after a, touchdown. The player making a touchdown tries fora goal by turning the spindle. If the white end points toward hisopponents half of the circle, he makes the goal, which counts one pointfor him. If the white end points towards his own half of the circle, hefails to kick the goal. v

The player making the touchdown, re-

gardless of whether or notvhe kicked the goal afterwards, is entitled tothe next turn of the spindle.

Held m downs. if the team. in possession of the ball fails to make a netgain of as much as ten yards in four consecutive plays, or downs, theball goes to the opposing side.

lhe team receiving the kick-oft", at'beginning of game kicks off to theopposing team at beginning of thethird quarter, the

ball being brought to'mid-field for this pur- I pose.

The plays made and counting of score are precisely thesame as in aregular foot ball game.

Having thus described my invention, what ll claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: v

1 A. foot ball game comprising a playing surface having inscribedthereon a plurality of concentric circles defining a plurality of areabeing subdivided by radial lines into spaces inscribed withthe names ofthe positions of the players in a football game, the innermost areadefined by the concentric circles being divided into equal parts andsubdivided into spaces inscribed with numerals arranged consecutlvely,the outermost area 1 defined by the circles being subdivided into spacesinscribed with numbers designating yards of gain or loss, the playingsurface bearing legends outwardly of the outermost circle opposite saidlast named spaces, said legends indicating plays, gains and lossesoccurring in a foot ball game.

2. A foot ball .game comprising a playing surface having inscribedthereon a plurality of concentric circles defining a plurality ofcircular areas therebetween, the intermediate area being subdivided byradial lines'into spaces inscribed with the names of the positions, ofthe players in a foot ball game, the

1 innermost area defined by the concentric circles being divided intoequal parts and subdivided into spaces inscribed with nucircular areastherebetween, the intermediate merals arranged consecutively, theoutersurface having inscribed thereon a plurality of concentric circlesdefining a plurality of circular areas therebetween, the intermediatearea being subdivided by radial lines into spaces inscribed with thenames of the positions of the players in a foot ball game, the

innermost area defined by the concentric circles being divided intoequal parts and subdivided into-spaces inscribed with numerals arrangedconsecutively, the outermost area defined by the circles beingsubdivided into spaces inscribed with numbers designating yards of gainor loss, the playing surface bearing legends outwardly of the outermostcircle opposite said last named spaces, said legends indicating plays,gains and losses occurring in a foot ball game, a spinner located atthecenter of said playing surface, in combination with a p ay recordingchart formed as the representation of a foot ball field, and a markerdisposable at points upon the field in correspondence with designatedplays, gains or. losses on the playing surface.

4;. A foot ball game comprising a playing surface having. inscribedthereon a plurality of concentric circles defining a plurality ofcircular areas therebctween, the intermediate area being subdivided byradial lines into spaces inscribed with the names of the positions of:the players in a foot ball game,

amie the innermost area defined by the concentric circles being dividedinto. equal parts and subdivided into spaces inscribed with numeralsarranged consecutively, the outermost area defined by the circles beingsubdivided into spaces inscribed with numbers designating yards of gainor loss, the playing surface bearing legends outwardly of the outermostcircle opposite said last named spaces, said legends indicating plays,gains and losses occurring in a foot ball game, a spinnable indicatorjournaled at the center of the circles in combination with a recordingchart formed as the representation of a foot ball field and providedwith yard indicating marks and'numerals thereadjacent, and a movablemarker designed to be placed upon said field in correspondence with theplays, gains and losses designated by the legends adjacent the outermost circle.

DAVIS CORBIN ATKINS.

Witnesses: his Prmrraa, BEULAH G. SPENCER,

